To try to help ease school districts’ bus driver staffing issues, Midcoast Adult & Community Education (MACE) will offer bus driver training in July. For over a year, districts’ administrators have had trouble meeting the need for drivers.

“Every school district in Maine is in need of school bus drivers,” said MACE director Raye Leonard. “Even if they have a full staff, districts still need subs and field trip drivers, and in general a much deeper bench from which to draw when regular drivers retire, or just need to take a day off." 

As of publication, Alternative Organizational Structure 98 had posted openings for bus driver substitutes and two bus drivers, and Wiscasset School Department had an opening for a van driver. Community School District administrators have said people are interested in being bus drivers, but the districts have had difficulty offering training. 

Leonard said 10 people have filled out paperwork with the intention of taking the class, which is about the maximum who can enroll. She said all those interested live in the Boothbay and Wiscasset area, and many already work for the town or schools. The program is an effort between MACE, the CSD and Wiscasset School Department. 

The course starts July 11, will take eight to 10 weeks at Wiscasset Middle High School, and includes both theory and practical driving training. CSD bus driver Peter Greenleaf will teach the program with technical assistance from Kate Winslow from Boothbay Region Adult Continuing Education. 

According to MACE, the course, which can costs thousands of dollars, is free thanks to partnerships with the school districts of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Wiscasset and Regional School Unit 12, with additional support from Midcoast Adult and Career Development Hub 7. However, there are around $290 of permitting, exam and other fees required to get certified.

Leonard said the first four weeks will cover the passenger and school bus endorsement training, so people who already have a commercial driver's license (CDL) can participate in the range-and-road instruction in time to possibly drive for districts in the fall. The second four weeks of the class will be the Class B CDL training. Leonard added, the course will take as much time as needed to ensure the requirements are met and to prepare qualified drivers. 

For more information, contact kwinslow@aos98schools.org or raye_leonard@rsu40.org